Overview of Hypocrisy in One Piece
- Numerous characters in One Piece exhibit glaring hypocrisy, often contradicting their professed ideals.
- High-ranking marines are frequently hypocritical, delivering justice through unethical means.
- The theme of hypocrisy is a recurrent motif, manifesting in the actions of various characters throughout the series.
Hypocrisy is a trait that many characters in One Piece display, particularly when their beliefs are put to the test. This often leads them to actions that starkly contradict their own values. Some individuals take this hypocrisy to an extreme, almost making it an inherent part of their character. Their actions—ranging from cowardice to outright deception—show a blatant disregard for their declared ideals.
This duplicity is not limited to the pirates; even high-ranking marine officers often embody this theme. Many characters, including those who betray their own people while demanding loyalty or who pursue justice through flagrant injustice, illustrate the widespread hypocrisy found within the world of One Piece.
10. Wapol
The Tyrant Who Abandoned His Kingdom
- Manga Debut: Chapter 131
Wapol, the pampered heir to the Drum Kingdom throne, epitomizes cowardice and hypocrisy. His most notable betrayal was against his own subjects, demanding unwavering loyalty while banishing all doctors except for his personal physicians to ensure compliance.
Ironically, when faced with adversity from Blackbeard, Wapol demonstrated his lack of loyalty by fleeing, abandoning his people without remorse. His character remains defined by this unwavering hypocrisy.
9. Vinsmoke Judge
The Abusive Father Seeking Redemption from His Son
- Manga Debut: Chapter 832
Judge’s hypocrisy is most evident in his relationship with his third son, Sanji. He dismissed Sanji’s sensitivity and compassion, offering no support during the brutal treatment inflicted by his siblings.
However, when Judge found himself in a predicament against Big Mom, he shamelessly turned to Sanji for help, even employing the use of a Raid Suit to mask his own shortcomings. This clearly demonstrates his hypocritical regard for the son he once deemed weak.
8. Charlotte Linlin
The Queen of Broken Ideals
- Manga Debut: Chapter 651
Big Mom, a character with grand ideals, is steeped in hypocrisy. While she professes to dream of a world free of racial discrimination, her disdain for her own daughter, a member of the three-eyed tribe, reveals her true nature.
Moreover, she treats others as mere collectibles, betraying her purported stance against discrimination. The contradiction is further highlighted in her behavior towards her promises, particularly one made to Vinsmoke Judge, showcasing the depths of her duplicity.
7. Arlong
A Supremacist Who Became His Own Enemy
- Manga Debut: Chapter 69
Arlong demonstrates redeemable traits through his loyalty to fellow Fish-men; however, his hypocrisy surrounding race is undeniable. He harbors a deep resentment for humans who practice superiority, yet he himself advocates for Fish-men supremacy.
This contradiction is bolstered by his choice to dominate East Blue, where he could exert his superiority over weaker opponents, perhaps as a result of having been defeated by the human Admiral Kizaru.
6. Admiral Sakazuki
Pursuing Justice Through Injustice
- Manga Debut: Chapter 397
Sakazuki, known for his extremist views on justice, believes in enforcing it without exception. His unwavering commitment leads him to target anyone associated with crime, whether directly or indirectly.
This rigid ideology gives rise to his hypocrisy, as he resorts to unethical methods in pursuit of his version of justice—practices that are inherently unjust.
5. Marshall D. Teach
The Crafty Betrayer
- Manga Debut: Chapter 223
Blackbeard possesses numerous negative traits; however, his hypocrisy often goes overlooked yet is crucial to his character progression. He coldly murdered Thatch and Whitebeard, despite vocally rejecting betrayal as a means to success.
Unlike other hypocritical characters whose duplicity arises from cowardice, Blackbeard employs it strategically, adapting to whichever rules serve him best at any given moment, enhancing his unpredictability as an antagonist.
4. Donquixote Doflamingo
The Monarch of Deceptive Loyalty
- Manga Debut: Chapter 233
Doflamingo is a self-proclaimed champion of loyalty, expecting it from his subordinates while claiming to care for their welfare. Yet, his willingness to sacrifice them for his own benefit reveals the insincerity of this loyalty.
His attempts to exploit his brother Rosinante and the indifference shown when his crew is caught in danger during the Birdcage incident starkly illustrate his true colors, contrasting sharply with his professed values.
3. Kurozumi Orochi
A Victim Turned Tyrant
- Manga Debut: Chapter 927
Orochi’s hypocrisy is glaring as he perpetuates the very abuses that shaped his trauma. Despite beginning his journey as a victim of tyranny due to his grandfather’s transgressions, he irrationally harbored severe hatred for Kozuki Sukiyaki, blaming him for his misfortunes.
Orochi’s despicable actions against characters such as Komurasaki and Momonosuke highlight the depths of his hypocrisy, culminating in a justified vengeance from the younger Kozuki generation.
2. The World Government
Justice Founded on Deception
- Manga Debut: Chapter 142
The World Government positions itself as a beacon of justice, ostensibly protecting citizens from the threat of pirates. However, their actions often betray this claim, perpetrating injustices in the name of their version of justice, which frequently contradicts its very essence.
Incredibly, the organization has conscripted former pirates as warlords, providing them a shield for illegal activities. The presence of Imu, the clandestine ruler of the world, further underscores their hypocritical stance against absolute authority.
1. Celestial Dragons
False Deities of a Corrupt System
- Manga Debut: Chapter 233
As one of the primary manifestations of the World Government’s hypocrisy, the Celestial Dragons represent a stark contradiction. They claim superiority derived from their lineage while relying on the Marines for protection against perceived threats.
Riddled with corruption, they regard those outside their circle as inferior, despite being mired in their own greed and moral failings. Their blatant hypocrisy makes them some of the most reviled figures in the One Piece universe, and the narrative seems poised for their ultimate downfall.